Enjoying the "Man Cave" with some friends...

[cherokeeprogressive]

[ManiacJoe]

1. Nicely done.

Any tips and tricks you care to share for those of us who might want to try this at home?

[cherokeeprogressive]

2. Here you go.

I'm still learning. This is where I got the idea though, and I found it on a website called stumbledupon.com

http://www.petapixel.com/2009/07/10/7-steps-to-taking-clone-photographs/

[ManiacJoe]

10. Thanks for the link.

That was the exactly the type of list of pre-shot and post-processing steps I was looking for.

[HarveyDarkey]

3. I saw your original post & failed to comment

IIRC, the article said to avoid overlaps, but you've managed nicely in this photo. How was that done?

[cherokeeprogressive]

5. The overlap really didn't create that much of a problem actually.

The bottom layer was me getting ready to break. I selected that me and made a new layer from the selection. Then I moved the me at the window to a layer below the me at the pool table, if that makes sense.

[HarveyDarkey]

7. In theory it does

I understand layers and how they're "supposed" to work. Mastering the software to make them work is another story for me.

[cherokeeprogressive]

8. Imagine five photographs laying flat, one on top of the other.

You're looking down at that pile from the top. Each photo can be a layer, and the only one you can see is the one on top. Now, re-arrange the layers and you're looking at a different picture. That's how my picture started.

First, I set the camera on a tripod, and tried to focus on as much of the room as possible. Then I set the camera to take a picture ten seconds after I pressed the shutter button. I pressed the button, ran to the end of the pool table, and picked up the cue during the countdown. I did the same thing four more times, each time running to a different spot in the room and taking up a pose.

The picture of me at the pool table, cue in hand, is the basis for the whole shebang and is the bottom layer. Every other photo lay on top of that, and the only one visible was the last one I took. I was able to work with them all at once by copying and pasting them all into the same Photoshop file so each separate photograph was merely a layer.

I erased everything except myself in each layer but the pool table one. What was left was the room in the first picture with me ready to break, and me in four other positions.

The problem I had was that the me in front of the window was covering the me with the pool cue. I had to cut the pool cue me out of the picture and make it a layer of its own. After that, I simply slid the layer that had me at the window underneath the layer that had me with the pool cue and voila... I was standing in front of me at the window.

Lastly, I save the image as a JPG file.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

4. nice. the light is at least

realistic as it appears the same in all the shots most people who try this get that all kinds of wrong

maybe it needs a frame?

:hide:

[cherokeeprogressive]

6. All five photos were taken in the space of about two minutes.

Thanks for the compliment, but the more I look at it, the more things I find I don't like, especially the focus. I think I'll try again tomorrow but this time I'll take more time with the initial setup.

[Mira]

11. I now have to change my underwear. No fair, WJMS. N/T

[Blue_In_AK]

9. I love this.

Way more imaginative than anything I could come up with. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Mira]

12. This is so very entertaining.

For some reason I am swamped with work, and at it from 9 to midnight every day.
I can't think through your surely excellent step-by-step description, I'm too tired.

But the photo illustrates my life long wish for clones.
I always wanted a total of six, the only difference is that they would not in the least be all involved in the same activity.

I'm having a really fun time watching what you're doing.

[cherokeeprogressive]

13. At CSULB we had a discussion once about the ethics of cloning...

The only thing I remember about the discussion is that my professor said something to the effect of "If I could clone myself, I'd FINALLY have an acceptable assistant".

I'd settle for one clone. A best friend, if you will. I wouldn't treat him as a source of easy work; I'd treat him as a total equal... the twin brother I never had.

I've already thought of hundreds of clone photographs that I'd like to take, but it's gonna take time.

The only bad thing about this whole sequence is that you have to figure out... is it Chris, or one of his clones?

[Blue_Tires]

14. been playing in the cloning lab again?

[Mz Pip]

15. You really did a good job

with your selections. I'm assuming that you used the pen tool? It's definitely a feature I need more practice with.

Very cool.

[cherokeeprogressive]

17. Lasso tool

I used both the magnetic lasso and the manual one. The magnetic one did the bulk of the work and I tidied it up with the manual one. 2 pixels of feathering.

[Sheepshank]

16. Friendly quints

how fun!